Hard Fork Hard Fork Live, Part 2: Patrick Collison of Stripe + Kathryn Zealand of Skip + Listener Questions
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Jul 4, 2025 
Patrick Collison, the Co-founder and CEO of Stripe, discusses how Silicon Valley can drive progress in areas like housing and healthcare while criticizing the value of prestige television. Kathryn Zealand, Founder and CEO of Skip, shares insights about her company's innovative robotic exoskeletons and tests them live, demonstrating their potential for helping those with mobility impairments. The conversation wraps up with engaging audience questions that delve into the future of technology and its societal implications.
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Building Progress Faces Self-Imposed Limits
- Physical construction progress is constrained by self-imposed, unnecessary limits, especially in California.
- The pace of building new housing and infrastructure could accelerate significantly with fewer bureaucratic barriers.
Scientists Crave Research Freedom
- Most top scientists want to change their research agenda if freed from funding restrictions.
- This shows that unlocking existing ideas inside systems is crucial for scientific progress rather than just adding money.
AI Agents Transform Commerce
- Stripe supports all types of transactions and is excited about AI agents autonomously transacting.
- Agents acting as 'paperwork minions' will improve convenience and efficiency in commerce.
